At an Arnotts preview of its SS26 collections, the spring season’s standout fashion accessory offering centered on statement handbags and carry-alls. The retailer presented new and returning accessories alongside womenswear and menswear lines at the store preview, aimed at dressing the customer for weddings, weekends and work. The showcase gathered designers, buyers and a long list of attendees to preview what will be on the shop floor.
Fashion Accessory Lineup at Arnotts
The accessories programme put handbags front and center. Spring’s hero handbags named for the season include Mulberry, Coach, Marc Jacobs, Valentino and Kate Spade, while Joanne McNally’s Anxious Preoccupied XL carry-alls return as a sell-out option. Kurt Geiger was listed among the footwear choices to take looks from day into night. This focus on a versatile fashion accessory offering runs alongside new brand arrivals and established labels on the department store floor.
Key Collections and Styling
Arnotts’ SS26 mood was described as joyful and ultra-wearable across multiple labels. Contemporary names like Essentiel Antwerp used primary shades across jackets, blouses and lightweight knits, while Ganni pushed animal print through laminated leopard jackets. Malina brought sleek bias-cut dresses, skirts and cropped jacquard jackets described as airy, minimal and luxurious. Róisín Linnane and Sister Jane supplied playful and embellished occasion pieces, and fan favourites such as Max & Co, Marella and Weekend Max Mara offered utilitarian luxe jackets. Adanola was singled out for its blend of lifestyle and athleisure, and Ted Baker returned with a noted womenswear collection. For menswear, preppy and off-duty looks landed in Gant, Polo Ralph Lauren and Boss, with RLX Ralph Lauren presented as a performance-driven line and Profuomo and Deus Ex Machina represented for relaxed dressing.
Immediate Reactions
Tracey Despard, Head of Fashion Buying at Brown Thomas Arnotts, framed the season around practical dressing and customer life stages: “At Arnotts, the seasonal collections are a nod to how our customer lives now. Whether she’s going to a wedding, heading away for the weekend or mastering her 9-to-5 look, there is something for each part of her life so that she can have fun and, ultimately, be inspired by fashion. ” Attendees at the preview included Aislinn Coffey, Jodie Wood, Corina Gaffey, Louise Cooney, Ciara O’Doherty, Debbie O’Donnell, Cathy O’Connor, Aoife Dunican, Sarah Rickard, Isabel Gleeson and Kwanele Nomoyi, reflecting broad industry and influencer interest in the season’s pieces and the accessories on offer.
What’s Next
The store indicated new arrivals will continue to land on the shop floor, with the London label Vìvere noted among upcoming additions and Malina, Róisín Linnane and others expanding occasion and daywear choices. Expect the handbag and carry-all selection to remain a primary fashion accessory conversation as the season moves toward full shop-floor availability, and watch how customers respond to the mix of practical and statement pieces highlighted at the preview.
